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Online Original: D. Rex Golding

August 24, 1997

Special Report -- Silicon Valley -- The Next Generation

ONLINE ORIGINAL: D. REX GOLDING

D. Rex Golding has had some big shoes to fill. As the replacement for longtime Morgan Stanley & Co. star banker Frank Quattrone, who left last year along with other senior bankers to launch rival Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Technology Group, Golding has worked hard to rebuild the Menlo Park-based team and firm up morale. And from the looks of things, the 39-year-old Harvard MBA seems to have done all right.

In the past year, the investment bank has completed deals for such giants as Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard. It has also lead-managed the hot initial public offerings of Silicon Valley startups At Home Corp. (a cable-based Net service) and Rambus Inc., whose technology speeds chip performance. Golding even found time to advise multibillionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud on high-tech financings in general and on investing in Apple Computer specifically.

Such high-profile wheeling and dealing has helped Morgan Stanley retain its reputation as a first-rate banker to the technology industry. It has also served to immerse Golding even more in the Silicon Valley network and culture -- even when he isn't working. Golding maintains four personal computers in his home, all hooked together by an ethernet network. "Being part of the Silicon Valley community is not a part-time job," says Golding, who was formerly a co-founder and chief financial officer at 3DO." You have to live it and breathe it and believe in it."

There's no doubt that Golding does, though even he admits to not being the stereotypical choice for his job as co-head of Morgan Stanley's Worldwide Technology Group. Instead of being a lateral hire from another bank, Golding was plucked out of industry for his technical knowhow and entrepreneurial experience -- qualities he claims give the firm a competitive edge. "We resemble the clients we're servicing," says Golding, who sheds the traditional coat-and-tie attire when clients prefer more casual interaction.

At least for the moment, Golding's style, far from that of the suits on Wall Street, is paying off.By Linda Himelstein in San Mateo